NHABDA Newsletter

As NHABDA began its 32nd year, the Board of Directors met for their Annual meeting on Saturday, January 12. Officers were elected and plans were discussed for the new year.
2019 NHABDA Officers are as follows:

I would like to extend a warm welcome to the newest members of our Board: Gina Vega and Maria Brush. Gina has already begun coordinating music, lessons and showcases for 2019. Maria was voted in by the BOD at our January meeting after expressing an interest (and jumping in to help) at our annual GALA.
I am excited to be working with a dynamic group of individuals, with good ideas and a willingness to contribute their time and effort to maintain and improve our organization and events. We are always looking for dedicated individuals - If you are interested in volunteering please let us know- We’ll put you to work!
Unfortunately the weather reports did not cooperate for our Winter Wonderland Dance in January. With a major snow storm predicted to start at the beginning of the dance and continue throughout the night, we thought it advisable to cancel. It was a difficult decision, but safety for all was our priority.
Please be sure to check the website for the most up to date information regarding lessons, showcases, seminars and outreach as well as for dance cancellations in case of inclement weather.
We hope to see you sporting Pink at our Sweetheart Dance on Saturday, February 16 at Pinkerton Academy. The music will be provided by a new (to NHABDA) DJ who will make his debut at the February dance. His name is Skot Pare from “DJ with a Difference”. We have heard good things about Skot and hope our dance attendees agree so we can invite him back for future events, any feedback from our members would be welcome. Paper Moon Dance Studio in Merrimack NH will be teaching a Rumba lesson from 6:45 with general dancing to ballroom mix from 7:30-10:30PM. Paper Moon also has an exciting Showcase planned during the break. Rumor has it that 2 of our board members will be dancing in the showcase as well!
The color Pink is also associated with the American Cancer Society’s fight against breast cancer and so we our reaching out to the ballroom dance community to ask for your support and prayers for one of our NHABDA instructors with a “sweetheart” personality, Laura Mailander.

For those of you not aware, Laura was diagnosed with Triple Positive Stage 1 Breast Cancer in May 2016. Her journey has not been easy, enduring a multitude of doctors, tests, surgeries, radiation and chemotherapy all while working and raising her two young children, Scarlett (age 6) and Hunter (age 4). Laura has recently been suffering from back pain which led her to a doctor's visit. Sadly, the tests revealed that her cancer has returned and metastasized to her spine and ribs and currently she is unable to walk without assistance. Laura's love of dancing and her time spent on the dance floor with her students has been one of her greatest joys in life. Laura and her husband Barry, feel her best chance to get back on the dance floor is to seek immediate alternative treatment options out of the country. They are a very proud family and would not ask for support so we are asking on their behalf. All donations will go for treatment and related expenses. We are praying that her treatment is successful and that your generosity will help make this happen.
A go Fund Me Account has been set up for her benefit at
https://www.gofundme.com/laura039s-cause

Questions, comments, suggestions — reply at memorin@comcast.net

Following the lead of many area studios, NHABDA has decided that all proceeds from February’s dance will go towards’ supporting Laura’s cause and we will also hold a 50/50 raffle for her benefit at the February Dance.